Johnny Groove
02-10-2012, 04:33 AM
Davis Cup these days is sometimes dismissed as a mere sideshow. Such a shame for such a long running and prestigious event. Davis Cup atmosphere is impossible to imitate at any grand slam, no matter how hard the French try. Davis Cup can change the careers of players and provide them with the self-belief that they can reach higher goals.
Look at Djokovic after winning Davis Cup in 2010. He’s won 4 out of the last 5 slams. Nadal in 2004, winning a crucial tie in the final in Seville, the history books tell you about the rest of his career. Even Fed in 2003, losing from 2 sets and a break up to Hewitt in Australia in the SF, losing 1-6 in the 5th. Heartbreaking for the Swiss, but he himself admits it was a turning point in his career. He won the Aussie Open 4 months later and the rest is legend.
Shit, even in the 20’s when Tilden was dominating and didn’t lose a match for 6 years(!!!), he lost a meaningless dead rubber vs. Rene Lacoste in 4 sets in the 1926 Davis Cup final, and it was the beginning of Tilden’s downfall and the rise of the French Musketeers in the late 20’s. USA had previously won the Davis Cup 7 straight years from 1920-26. USA won the 1926 DC final by 4-1, but the tide changed after. 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, the French beat the USA in the Davis Cup final every time.
It is a shame that this competition seems 2nd tier these days despite its ability to change careers. Watch this weekend and see and feel the energy coming from the stadium into your third party livestreams onto your computer screen and into your heart.
Vamos Davis Cup. Long live the Davis Cup :drink: :drink:
Look at Djokovic after winning Davis Cup in 2010. He’s won 4 out of the last 5 slams. Nadal in 2004, winning a crucial tie in the final in Seville, the history books tell you about the rest of his career. Even Fed in 2003, losing from 2 sets and a break up to Hewitt in Australia in the SF, losing 1-6 in the 5th. Heartbreaking for the Swiss, but he himself admits it was a turning point in his career. He won the Aussie Open 4 months later and the rest is legend.
Shit, even in the 20’s when Tilden was dominating and didn’t lose a match for 6 years(!!!), he lost a meaningless dead rubber vs. Rene Lacoste in 4 sets in the 1926 Davis Cup final, and it was the beginning of Tilden’s downfall and the rise of the French Musketeers in the late 20’s. USA had previously won the Davis Cup 7 straight years from 1920-26. USA won the 1926 DC final by 4-1, but the tide changed after. 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, the French beat the USA in the Davis Cup final every time.
It is a shame that this competition seems 2nd tier these days despite its ability to change careers. Watch this weekend and see and feel the energy coming from the stadium into your third party livestreams onto your computer screen and into your heart.
Vamos Davis Cup. Long live the Davis Cup :drink: :drink: